Issue Position: Latino New Jerseyans

Issue Position

When Barbara Buono's grandparents came to the United States from a small village outside of Naples, they had no money and spoke no English, but they wanted to give their son, Barbara's father, a better life.

And when Milly Silva's mother came here from Puerto Rico with little else but hope for a brighter future, she worked hard to make ends meet.

Barbara and Milly's parents may have come to the United States from different places and at different times, but they came here for the same reason -- to pursue the American Dream.

The American Dream is based on the fundamental idea that all people who work hard and play by the rules should have an equal opportunity to succeed. It is what has drawn people from all walks of life to our nation's shores since its founding, and it is what has made us strong.

But today, too many people in New Jersey are finding that the opportunities that brought them and generations before them to this State are beginning to slip away. This is particularly true for Latino New Jerseyans, a disproportionate number of whom are unemployed, living in poverty, and unable to make ends meet.

Barbara Buono and Milly Silva understand that moving New Jersey forward requires making sure that everyone has the opportunity to achieve the American Dream. Their platform lifts up Latino New Jerseyans, making sure the opportunities that brought previous generations to our State are available for the next generation and generations to come.

Tuition Equality for New Jersey's DREAMers

Higher education is key to securing a good job in the 21st century economy. But for thousands of New Jersey students lacking proper documentation, our colleges and universities are simply out of reach because they are forced to pay tuition rates three times higher than their high school classmates'. That's not just wrong for New Jersey's students; it's wrong for New Jersey's economy.

Barbara and Milly understand that in order for our economy to rebound, we need to make sure that every student has an equal opportunity to obtain an affordable higher education. They are committed to bringing tuition equality to New Jersey, empowering thousands of New Jersey's DREAMers to get the skills and training they need to fill the jobs of the future.

A Livable Wage for All Workers

Today in New Jersey, 154,000 Latinos are living on $7.25 an hour--a wage so low that many of them work multiple jobs and still can barely afford to put food on the table and gas in the tank. In a state with one of the highest costs of living in the nation, having the lowest minimum wage allowed under federal law is simply unacceptable.

Barbara and Milly support raising New Jersey's minimum wage and tying it to cost of living increases, which will help grow our economy and make it easier for Latino New Jerseyans to make ends meet.

A Quality Education for Every Child

Education is the stepping-stone that enables our young people to lift themselves above their circumstances and make their dreams a reality. Barbara and Milly believe every student deserves that chance, regardless of who they are, where they're from, or what language they speak. They are fully committed to making sure every child receives the quality education they deserve by:

Providing every child with the resources they need to succeed, protecting funding for our second-language learners
Expanding quality preschool and full-day kindergarten, which will help close the achievement gap
Restoring before- and after-school programs, which help ensure that learning continues even when students leave the classroom
Breaking the Cycle of Poverty

Today more New Jerseyans are living in poverty than at any time during the last five decades. A disproportionate number come from Latino families, who struggle every day to meet their basic needs.

The Earned Income Tax Credit has been one of our nation's most effective programs in lifting families out of poverty. It puts more money in the pockets of our low-income residents, making it easier for them to put food on the table and provide for their families.

Barbara and Milly will restore the Earned Income Tax credit that was cut under Governor Christie, giving Latino New Jerseyans across the state the ability to lift themselves out of poverty and live up to their full potential.

Access to Affordable Healthcare

Healthcare should not be a privilege for some; it should be a fundamental right for all. President Obama's Affordable Care Act worked to make that right a reality for all people in New Jersey, regardless of their circumstances.

But Governor Christie has stood in the way of providing affordable healthcare for all New Jerseyans by rejecting key elements of President Obama's Affordable Care Act. As a result, up to 186,000 New Jerseyans, many of them Latino, could miss out on access to the affordable healthcare they need.

Barbara and Milly are fully committed to making sure that every New Jerseyan has access to affordable healthcare. They support implementing an enhanced outreach effort to make sure that all eligible families enroll in the healthcare exchanges under the Affordable Care Act.

Supporting Latino Business Owners

There are over 68,000 Latino-owned businesses in New Jersey, many of them small businesses. These businesses are integral to New Jersey's cultural and economic fabric, contributing over $10 billion to our economy. Barbara and Milly know that supporting our Latino business owners will be key to our economic recovery moving forward. That is why they support programs to cut costs and provide hands-on support for our women- and minority-owned businesses.

A Commitment to Diversity

New Jerseyans take pride in our state's diversity. Barbara and Milly believe that government should reflect that same value. From the Supreme Court to Executive Cabinet, they will work to ensure that government reflects the diversity of our state. In addition, they will work to promote the inclusion of Latinos in public service by establishing a Chief Diversity and Equal Employment Opportunity Officer.

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